The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has signed a 1.1-billion-euro ($1.2 billion) contract for the purchase of 155-millimeter artillery ammunition, the alliance said on Tuesday.

The latest deals, signed with French firm Nexter and Germany's Junghans Microtec, are estimated by officials to cover around 220,000 shells, and deliveries to NATO members will start at the end of 2025.

"It is important that our allies refill their own stocks as we continue to support Ukraine," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

(With input from agencies)